Pastors Vow Not to Participate in Civil Marriages:

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

How is that really in different from what happens right now?

It establishes a marriage covenant in care of the church, or in the eyes of God. This allows individual couples the right to decide if they wish to pursue a civil marriage license and register their unions with the state (for state benefits) or to keep their marriage entirely government free. Essentially, "marriage in care of the church", establishes a religious marriage wherein any marital issues that arise (including divorce) are dealt with privately between the couple and/or their local elders or chosen counselors without the involvement of the world's civil court system, unless a crime was committed. Much like what we see in older Quaker fellowships.